Five students in Florida have been charged with assaulting a fellow classmate on a school bus, allegedly motivated by the victim’s wearing of a pro-Trump hat.
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office says the students face misdemeanor battery charges for their alleged roles in the Nov. 21 attack, CBS affiliate WCTV reported.
Cellphone video of the attack, reportedly shot by another student and obtained from school officials, went viral after being shared to Twitter by the 14-year-old victim’s mother.
The boy’s family claimed on social media that the boy was targeted because he wore a “Trump” hat.
“Keep in mind this is only the first 21 seconds of the video,” the mother, who goes by the username @AmericanDiaries on Twitter, tweeted on Thursday. “Please RT to have these two girls and 3 boys held accountable.”
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According to the victim’s mother, her son was hospitalized following the assault.
The incident prompting an outcry from many supporters of President Donald Trump and high-profile conservatives, including Charlie Kirk and Rudy Giuliani.
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The attorney representing the victim’s family said on Friday that they are “extremely grateful for the encouragement and support they have received” in the aftermath of the attack.
“Please continue to lift them up during this hectic holiday season!” Foye Walker tweeted.
Hamilton County School District Superintendent Rex Mitchell said in a statement issued Friday that the school had investigated the incident, disciplined the students involved and turned evidence over to the local sheriff’s office.
Mitchell also said the school found no evidence that the victim’s pro-Trump attire had anything to do with the attack.
For immediate release.
Posted by Hamilton County School District on Friday, December 13, 2019
“There was no evidence found during the investigation that indicated the student was wearing any of this apparel at the time of the altercation or that his wearing of such apparel on a prior occasion motivated the incident,” Mitchell said in the statement.